Final answer:
Longitude runs in a north-south direction, but measures distance east and west of the prime meridian, which is 0° longitude.
Step-by-step explanation:
Although longitude runs in a north-south direction, they measure distance east and west of the prime meridian, which is identified as 0° longitude.
Measuring Longitude is an essential aspect of navigation. Longitude lines, or meridians, run from the North Pole to the South Pole and are used in conjunction with latitude to pinpoint locations on the Earth. The prime meridian, which passes through Greenwich, England, is designated as 0° longitude.
From the prime meridian, longitude can be measured up to 180° east or -180° west.
Remember that each degree of longitude corresponds to a specific meridian, extending from pole to pole and crossing the equator. This system is the graticule, an extensive grid made by intersecting lines of latitude and longitude, that enables accurate location identification on Earth's surface.